TheKawasaki Versys-X 300 (pictured above) will be the first production motorcycle to use the new Bosch 10 ABS unit which is their smallest, lightest and most effective yet.

It will be followed by the 2018 Suzuki GSX-S125 ABS.

Kawasaki Motors Australia has not yet confirmed whether we will be getting the new small-bore adventure bike.

The German company says their ABS 10 unit is nearly 30% lighter and 45% smaller than the current ABS 9. That makes it more suitable for lightweight, small-capacity bikes.

“Bosch has designed and launched motorcycle ABS 10 with the aim of bringing this key safety technology to all vehicle classes and markets,” says Geoff Liersch, head of the Bosch Two-Wheeler and Powersports business unit.

Bosch ABS10

ABS mandated

This comes as mandating ABS is coming closer to reality.

European Union has mandated ABS from 2017 to all newly registered vehicles with an engine displacement over 125cc.

Similar legislation will also apply in Japan and India from 2018, and in Taiwan from 2019.

Brazil plans to mandate ABS for all existing vehicle types with an engine displacement over 300cc. The legislation is being enacted gradually between 2016 and 2019.

Motorcycle ABS is also on the political agenda in Australia and the United States.

ABS unit ‘effective’

“ABS can prevent one-quarter of all motorcycle accidents resulting in casualties,” says Dirk Hoheisel, quoting from GIDAS, the German In-Depth Accident Study.

“We welcome the decisions around the world to make ABS standard. This will greatly reduce the number of motorcycle accidents.”

Bosch says their new unit has shorter stopping distances and more complex algorithms to cope with varying terrain and riding conditions.